Curtain or blind fixture



T. U. WALTER. CURTAIN 0R BLIND FIXTURE.

Patented Oct. 22,1895.

{No Model.)

nmmmm INVENTOH.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orrics.

THOMAS U. WALTER, OF HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA.

CURTAIN OR BLIND FIXTURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 548,485, dated October22, 1895. Application filed March 11, 18 95. Serial No. 541,318- (Nomodel.)

2" 0 all whom it may concern 7 Be it known that I, THOMAS U. WALTER,residing at Huntington, in the county of Oabell and State of l/VestVirginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ourtainor Blind Fixtures, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improve ments in curtain-fixtures andinside blinds; and it primarily has for its object to provide a simpleand inexpensive arrangement of parts, which can easily be manipulatedand which will effectively serve for their intended purposes.

My invention also has for its object to provide devices of the characterstated so arranged that the curtain or blind can be easily adjusted andsecurely held at any point desired without the use of the coil-springand spring-com pressing devices usually em ployed and in which but aslight pressure on the rod or bar at the lower end of the curtain willserve to release the catch member and free the curtain or blind topermit a free movement thereof.

With other minor objects in view, which hereinafter will be referred to,my invention consists in such novel features of construction andpeculiar combination of parts as will be first described in detail, andthenbe specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference beingbad to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of a car-window, showing my improved curtain-fixture appliedthereto. Fig.2 is a detail perspective view of the spring-catch devices.Fig. 3 is a detail sectional elevation taken practically on the line 3 3of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig.3. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a car-window having an inside blindwith my improvements applied. Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating myimprovements applied to a curtain arranged to pull upward, and Fig. 7 isa perspective view illustrating the several parts of the spring-catchdetached. Fig. 8 illustrates a modified form hereinafter referred to.

In the practical application of my invention the same is adapted for usein connection with spring-controlled curtains arranged to pull downwardor upward and inside blinds adapted to lower by gravity, suchapplication of my invention being illustrated in the drawings. I desireit understood, however, that my improved lock devices may be used inconnection with car or other window sashes without requiringmodification of the parts of such devices.

Heretot'ore it has been common practice to provide the curtains for carsor other windows with finger-actuated releasing devices, which must bemanipulated to release the spring-catches and which must be heldcompressed during the raising or lowering movement of the curtain. Inotherinstances supplemental catch -releasing devices are procial meansfor setting or releasing the same is provided or necessary further thanthe ordinary pressure or pull which is exerted on any curtain or blindto raise or lower the same, even where no spring-catch devices are usedin connection therewith.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A indicates the window-sash,which has the usual curtain or blind grooves.

In Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 I have shown the curtain devices, and in suchviews the grooves a have at one side toothed faces B, which may beformed of metal or hard rubber, the teeth of which incline downward, asshown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, such faces being fit- ;ted in thegrooves a. in any desired manner.

0 indicates the curtain, which is of the spring-roller kind, the loweror pull rod 0 of which is, however, preferably formed tubular andprovided with internal threads 0' at the ends fora purpose presentlyexplained. This rod carries at each end a spring-actuated catch ordetent mechanism which when the curtain is grasped by the fingers toraise or lower it, automatically in a sense, becomes released from therack-face and'moves freely in the groove a. This detent mechanism, whichis illustrated in detail in Fig. 7, comprises a cast plate D, formedwith a central hub d, which is externally threaded to fit into thethreaded end of the tubular rod 0 and with a projecting tooth or lug d,which is adapted to engage the rack-teeth of the member 13, such lug dbeing normally held in engagement with the rack by spring-pressure,preferably by means of a Hat bent spring E, which has its member eriveted to the plate D, while its member e forms a bearing-shoe, whichengages and travels on the smooth face of the groove a as shown mostclearly in Fig. 3.

I find it necessary when using a fiat sprin like E to connect the member6 with the sashframe to prevent the detent mechanism from turning orbecoming disengaged. For this purpose I groove the face a of the groovea, as shown at a over which is fitted a slotted plate F, through theslotf of which passes a headed guide-studj secured to the member 6' ofthe spring, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

So far as described it will be readily seen that as the pressure on therod naturally is in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3,whenever a person grasps the curtain the spring E will be compressedsufficiently to free the lug d from the rack member and thereby allowfor a free movement of the curtain and the detent mechanism, it beingobvious that so soon as the pressure or pull on the curtain is releasedthe lug d will instantly engage the rack member and lock the curtainfrom further upward movement. It will thus be manifest that that nounusual or special manipulation of the curtain is required to releasethe detent devices, making it possible for any one, adult or child, toadjust the curtain.

In Fig. 5 I have shown my improved devices employed as a blind-holder.In this case the rack-teeth are reversed and the pawl or lug (I held totravel freely upward, but to engage the rack and hold the blind elevatedwhen it (the blind) drops back by gravity. The same arrangement of therack and detent devices is provided when connected with a spring-rollercurtain held to pull upward, as shown in Fig. 6.

It is manifest that the detail arrangement of parts of my invention maybe modified without departing from the broad idea of my invention. Forinstance, a double pawl D may be pivotally connected to each end of therod 0, having one end or toe d held to engage the rack while the otherend or heel d is held to engage the smooth face of the groove, such toeand heel portions being so arranged that a pressure rearward on thecurtain-rod will cause the double pawl to rock to the position shown indotted lines in Fig. 7, the said pawl being held to a normal or lockedposition by the spiral spring 00.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patcut, is

1. As an improvement in curtain or blind fixtures, the combination, withthe window casing, having guide-ways, a blind bar projecting at its endsinto and movable within said guide-ways, detents, and compressibledevices for holding such detents normally engaged with the guide-ways,the blind bar carrying such detents and devices, and bell bodilymovable, horizontally, whereby to compress said devices and release thedetents, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with the sash frame having its guide groovesa formedwith a rack member B, of the spring returned curtain having its pull rodprovided with detent devices, having a pawl adapted to engage the rack,aspring member having a bearing portion held to travel on the smoothedge of the groove and connected with the pawl to hold it normally inengagement with the rack face, said pawl adapted to be released from therack as the lower end of the curtain is pressed inward, all arrangedsubstantially as shown and for the purposes described.

3. The combination with the sash frame having its grooves a formed witha rack face, of the curtain, having a pull rod 0 at the lower end, pawlsdetachably connected to the ends thereof, and spring members for holdingsaid pawls in engagement normally with the aforesaid rack face, andprovided with hearing portions adapted to engage the smooth edge of thegrooves a all arranged substantially as shown and for the purposesdescribed.

4. In a curtain or blind fixture as described the combination with thegrooves at having rack portions B, and the blind or curtain member, ofpawls secured to the edges thereof, having lugs to engage the rackportion, and spring members secured to the pawls and having guide andfastening devices for holding them from displacement in the grooves aall arranged substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

5. The combination of the sash having its guide grooves formed with arack face at one edge and a slot way at the other and the curtain rod 0,the detents D detachably connected to the ends thereof, the springs Esecured to the detents havinga bearing portion to engage the smooth faceof the grooves a and having a catch member fitting the slot way thereinall arranged substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

THOMAS U. WALTER. Witnesses:

FRED G. DIETRIcH, SoLoN C. KEMON.

